Combined hinging and holding device for closure members



April 23, 1968 A.-HALDOPOULOS ET L COMBINED HINGING AND HOLDING DEVICE FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS Filed Sept. 29, 1965 INVENTORS AKIS HALDOPOULOS XvTHOMAS P- MVTGHELL THE\R ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,378,880 COMBINED HINGING AND HOLDING DEVICE FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS Akis Haldopoulos and Thomas P. Mitchell, Louisville,

Ky., assignors to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 29, 1965, Ser. No. 491,277 Claims. (Cl. 16-142) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combined closure member hinging and holding device includes a flexible hinge leaf member rigidly secured to the closure member and pivotally connected to a bracket secured to the supporting structure for the closure member. The supporting structure includes rigid means forming an opening for the hinge member at a distance from the pivotal attachment. The hinge member has a projection which engages the rigid means to flex the hinge as it moves through the opening and to releasably retain the closure member open. The hinge member may also include a second portion which engages the support structure to limit the opening movement of the closure member.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved hinging and holding device of the type which provides for movement of the closure member without necessitating an exposed pivot point therefor.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a hinging and holding device which is reliable in operation yet is constructed from a minimum number of low cost parts.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, there is provided a combined hinging and holding device including a flexible hinge leaf member having one end adapted to be rigidly secured to a closure member. Bracket means are provided to be secured to the supporting structure for the closure member and the other end to the hinge leaf member is adapted to be connected to the bracket means for pivoting movement about a point.

The supporting structure includes rigid means forming an opening. One section of the hinge leaf member moves through the opening as the hinge leaf member pivots about the point. One wall of this section bears against the rigid means and includes a protrusion. As the protrusion passes the rigid means the hinge leaf member is caused to flex and then the engagement of the protrusion and the rigid means retain the closure member in its open position. The hinge leaf member is also formed with a second section adjacent the bracket end thereof adapted to engage the support structure and thus limit the opening movement of the closure member.

One suitable application for this new and improved hinging and holding device is in conjunction with the lid of automatic washing machines. The use of our new and improved device enables the lid hinge to be concealed and insures that the lid will remain open without the attention of the operator during loading and unloading of the machine.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with other objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing,

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a typical clothes washing machine which may include a 3,378,880 Patented Apr. 23, 1968 closure member hinged by means of our improved device; FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross-section along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, showing the closure member being held in its open position by our new hinging and holding device;

FIGURE 4 is a view, partly in cross-section, along line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a view, partly in cross-section, along line 5--5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a view, partly in cross-section, along line 6-6 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is shown a typical clothes washing machine 1 of the type having a cabinet 2 which encloses clothes washing apparatus (not shown) which is accessible through an opening 3 having a closure member 4 which normally blocks off the opening except when the operator wishes to load or unload the machine. A typical backsplasher 5 including a control member 6 may be provided in the usual manner to provide effective operative control of the sequence of operations being performed by the apparatus contained within cabinet 2. It readily Will be apparent that the operator may wish the closure member 4 to remain in an open position without any assistance, since, when the closure member is in its open position, she will normally be engaged either in depositing clothes to be washed in the machine or taking clothes out of the machine; in either event, she will wish to have the use of both hands. Also, of course, it is desirable that the closure member or lid 4 remain in its open position without resting against backsplasher 5, since this would eventually mar the finish either of the backsplasher or of the lid or both.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 3 and 5, it will be seen that lid 4 is provided with a seat 7 formed in cabinet 2. According to our invention we provide a bracket member 8 including a flange 9 which is secured by a suitable means to the cabinet structure. Bracket 8 includes a pin 10 on which is pivotally mounted one end 11 of a hinge leaf member generally indicated at 13. The other end 14 of hinge leaf 13 is secured to lid 4 by any suitable means, such as screw and nut arrangements 15. The intermediate portion 16 of hinge leaf 13 passes through an opening 17 provided in the seat 7. The edge of seat 7 forming opening 17 is provided with an insert 18 which fits closely around the edge of the opening and conceals any raw edges that may be left in seat 7 by the forming of the opening.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 6 it will be seen that one side of intermediate section or length 16 is adapted to engage the insert 18 at one edge of opening 17. This side includes a first part 19, toward end 14, of relatively small slope, and a second part 20, toward end 11 of relatively large slope. These parts form an outwardly extending projection generally indicated at 21.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it will be noted that the section 22 of hinge leaf 13- joining intermediate section 16 with end 11 is formed with a tab or ramp 23 that is adapted to engage the inner portion of seat 7 when the closure member is in its open position.

As the closure member is moved from the closed position, shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, to the open position, shown in FIGURES 3 and 6, the hinge leaf pivots about pin 10 and moves in a plane normal to lid 4. Part 19 rides along insert .18 adjacent one edge of opening 17 and causes the hinge leaf, which is constructed of some flexible material, to bend or flex as protrusion 21 approaches the opening. Then after protrusion 21 passes by the edge of seat 7 and insert 18 the hinge leaf flexes back toward the position shown in FIGURE 6 and second part 20 rides along insert 18. When the closure member has reached its fully open position tab or ramp 23 engages the inner side of seat 7 so as to prevent further outward movement of closure member 4.

The relatively large slope of part 2-0 insures that the engagement of part 20 with insert 18 will hold closure member 4 in its open position as long as no force is exerted to unlock the hinge leaf member 13 from the position it has assumed. When it is desired to close the lid or closure member 4, it is necessary merely to pull it gently toward its closed position. When this occurs sloping part 20 rides along the edge of insert 18 and again forces hinge leaf 13 to flex out of the plane of its pivotal movement so as to allow protrusion 21 to pass through opening 17 until the closure member has assumed its fully closed position.

When the closure member has assumed its fully closed position, hinge leaf will have moved through opening 17 in an amount sufiicient for the slope of part 19' to cause the tension on the hinge leaf to be released. Thus, when the closure member is in its closed position, the hinge leaf is free of stress.

It will be understood that insert 18 is not necessary for proper operation of our new and improved hinging and holding device. All that is required is that the edge of opening 17 against which the sloping parts 19 and 2t) ride be smooth so as not to cut or bind. This could be provided merely by bending over one portion of seat 7. However, from the point of view of ease and economy of manufacture, the preferred embodiment is to stamp an opening in seat portion 7 of cabinet 2 and then use a simple plastic insert to conceal the rough edges formed by the cutting process. It will also be understood that any suitable material which allows hinge leaf member 13 to repeatedly flex and then return to its original configuration would be suitable for manufacturing our hinging and holding device. However, we have found that a thermoplastic material will provide very satisfactory results at a minimum cost.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes we have described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of our invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention, and we therefore aim in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A combined closure member hinging and holding device comprising:

(a) a flexible hinge leaf member having a first end adapted to be rigidly secured to a closure member;

(b) bracket meansadapted to be secured to a supporting structure for the closure member, said hinge leaf member having a second end pivotally connected to said bracket so as to pivot about a point;

(c) the supporting structure including rigid means forming an opening at a predetermined distance from said point;

(d) said hinge leaf member including a first length adapted to move through said opening as said hinge leaf member pivots about said point;

(e) one side of said first length being adapted to engage said rigid means and including first and second inclined parts forming a projection;

(f) said hinge leaf member being caused to flex as said projection passes said rigid means and the engagement of one of said inclined parts and said rigid means retaining the closure member in its open position.

2. A combined closure member hingin g and holding device comprising:

(a) a flexible hinge leaf member having a first end adapted to be rigidly secured to a closure member;

(b) bracket means adapted to be secured to a supporting structure for the closure member, said hinge leaf member having a second end pivotally connected to said bracket so as to pivot about a point;

(e) the supporting structure including rigid means forming an opening at a predetermined distance from said point;

(d) said hinge leaf member including a first length adapted to move through said opening as said hinge leaf member pivots about said point;

(e) one side of said first length being adapted to engage said rigid means, said one side including a first part of relatively small slope and a second part of relatively large slope forming a projection;

(f) said hinge leaf member being caused to flex as said first part passes said rigid means and the engagement of said second part and said rigid means retaining the closure member in its open position.

3. A closure member hinging and holding device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said hinge leaf member further includes a second length adjacent said second end, said second length being adapted to engage the supponting structure thereby to limit the opening movement of the closure member.

4. A combined closure member hinging and holding device comprising:

(a) a flexible hinge leaf member having a first end adapted to be rigidly secured to a closure member;

(b) bracket means adapted to be secured to a support structure for the closure member, said hinge leaf member having a second end pivotally connected to said bracket so that said hinge leaf member pivots about a point in a plane substantially normal to the closure member;

(c) {the supporting structure including rigid means forming an opening at a predetermined distance from said point;

(d) said hinge leaf member including a first length adapted to move through said opening as said hinge leaf member pivots about said point;

(e) one side of said first length being adapted to engage said rigid means, said one side including a first part of relatively small slope toward said first end and a second part of relatively large slope toward said second end, said parts forming a projection extending out of said plane intermediate said ends;

(if) said hinge leaf member being caused to flex as said first part passes said rigid means and the engagement of said second part and said rigid means retaining the closure member in its open position.

5. A closure member hinging and holding device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said hinge leaf member further includes a second length adjacent said second end, said second length being adapted to engage the supporting structure thereby to limit the opening movement of the closure member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,034,905 3/1936 Jacobs 16l45 2,268,942 1/ 1942 Jacobs 16-85 3,230,576 1/1966 Sauer 16--85 3,066,349 12/1962 Youngdale 16147 BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner,

DORIS L. T ROUTMAN, Assistant Examiner. 

